Pons spoke as if it were nothing out of the ordinary, but everyone present was utterly dumbfounded, ‘A few more pirates?
That was eighty million Berry!
And Pons must have kept a portion for himself as well…
meaning his total bounty earnings had likely surpassed one hundred million.
Just what kind of pirates had he taken down?!’ This was not the time for detailed inquiries, however.
Carlo spoke up: “So, calling us all here is because you want us to jointly oversee the use of this money?” Pons nodded.
“Exactly.
With all of you working together, the funds will surely be used appropriately.” After all, eighty million Berry was a massive sum.
If entrusted to just one person, there was a risk of embezzlement…
no matter how upright and kind that person might usually appear.
These individuals were all influential figures in town with generally good reputations.
By having them supervise one another and collectively decide how to spend the money, Pons could feel somewhat more at ease.
A gentle-faced woman of about forty then spoke up: “But if we have this much money, won’t we be subject to higher Heavenly Tribute levies…?” The woman was Mia, the director of the town’s only hospital.
After her words, the others also showed expressions of concern.
The Heavenly Tribute was like a sword hanging over every commoner’s head.
It often reduced people who might have lived comfortably to barely scraping by…
or even worse.
Pons understood this all too well.
In the past two years, he too had been required to pay the Heavenly Tribute regularly.
Without it, the money he had earned from selling boars would have allowed him to live even more comfortably.
Though Riman Town had just suffered a pirate attack, the Celestial Dragons could not care less.
The required payment remained exactly the same…
not one Berry less.
And if they learned that the town had come into a large sum of money, they would not care that it was meant for reconstruction.
They would simply raise the levy the next time around.
At this point, a man of about fifty with a somewhat haggard appearance spoke up: “For now, we should keep quiet about this money.
As for reconstruction… Carlo, you’ll be responsible for organizing people to sail to nearby islands to purchase construction materials and other necessities.
Make sure to visit several islands instead of concentrating purchases on one…
so no one notices you have ample funds.” This man was named Sanda, the principal of the town’s only school.
Carlo nodded.
“Understood.” Riman Town lacked supplies; to rebuild, they had no choice but to procure materials from other islands.
Though sailing was fraught with risk, there was no alternative.
What no one realized was that with the two major pirate crews…
the Hammer Pirates and Swordfish Pirates…
in these waters now wiped out, the remaining small crews had been intimidated into lying low.
This period might actually be relatively peaceful and safe at sea.
The group continued discussing further details, while Pons excused himself early.
“Won’t you stay and continue the discussion?” Carlo asked Pons.
“No, I’ve already agreed to join the Marines.
Once I’ve finished my business here, I’ll be heading off to enlist,” Pons said.
The others were initially surprised to hear Pons was joining the Marines, but soon they were happy for him.
After all, to most ordinary people, the Marines represented justice.
Joining them was generally seen as a good thing.
Barry said with some excitement: “So you’ll be serving under Lieutenant Reg?
In that case, our waters will be protected by you from now on!” However, Pons shook his head.
“Where I’ll be stationed will likely be in faraway seas.” Though Drake had implied he would be assigned directly to Marine Headquarters, nothing was certain until it happened.
In any case, it seemed unlikely he would serve under Reg.
After all, he had defeated Robert…
a pirate with a bounty of fifty-five million Berry.
If he joined the Marines, even if he did not go to Headquarters, the higher-ups would surely assign him to deal with other pirates with bounties over fifty million, not place him in such a remote backwater.
Hearing that Pons would be stationed elsewhere, Barry could not hide his disappointment.
Seeing this, Sanda said to Barry: “In a place like this, being a Marine offers little future.
If Pons is being transferred to other seas, it shows that his superiors value him…
he’ll have many chances for promotion.
You should be happy for him.” Barry nodded and composed himself.
Pons then said to Sanda: “Thank you for your kind words, Sanda-sensei.” Pons had attended Sanda’s school as a child…
though that belonged to his predecessor’s memories.
The transmigrated Pons was not particularly close to Sanda, but since they had once shared a teacher-student relationship, he still addressed Sanda as ‘Sensei’.
Afterward, Pons took his leave, leaving the others to continue their discussion.
Pons then visited several acquaintances to say goodbye, as he did not know when he would return after joining the Marines.
After saying his farewells, Pons returned home.
After donating eighty million Berry, he still had fifty-one million Berry remaining.
He found a small cloth pouch, placed three million Berry into it, and then dug a hole about two meters deep behind his house, burying the suitcase containing the remaining forty-eight million Berry.
He could live for a long time on three million Berry, and once he became a Marine, he would also receive a salary.
The rest could be kept hidden for now.
It was said that some larger nations had banking services, but he probably would not be able to visit such places anytime soon.
So burying the money in his own backyard seemed the safest option…
hopefully no one would dig it up.
After finishing all his tasks, dusk was approaching.
Pons took one last look at the small house he had lived in for two years, then walked toward the harbor.
Major Galland and the other Marines had not come ashore with Pons earlier, remaining aboard the warship instead.
When they saw Pons return, Galland asked: “Are you done with everything you needed to do?” “Yes, it’s all taken care of.” “Alright, let’s set sail then.” The Marines raised the sails and steered the ship, which slowly pulled away from the harbor.
On deck, Pons asked Galland: “Where are we heading next?” Though he had agreed to join the Marines, surely he would not be sailing directly to Marine Headquarters on such a small warship, would he?
However, Galland replied: “I just contacted Captain Drake via Den Den Mushi.
He has already reported your situation to Marine Headquarters.
We are to sail directly to Headquarters.” Drake was a Marine Headquarters’ Captain, temporarily assigned to the Romon Sea to deal with the Glide Pirates.
Now that his mission was complete, after transporting the high-value prisoners to Impel Down, he would naturally return to Headquarters.
As a Captain, Drake had the authority to recommend talent.
After he submitted his report on Pons to Headquarters, the higher-ups ordered Pons to report to Marine Headquarters directly.
Pons, however, was stunned, ‘Sailing directly from Riman Island to Marine Headquarters…
how long would that take?
On a slow ship like this, would it not take several months?’ So Pons asked Galland: “If we sail straight to Marine Headquarters without stopping, how long will it take?” Galland thought for a moment and said: “If we don’t stop at any islands along the way and head straight there, it should take over two months.
However, our provisions are limited, so we’ll need to resupply at certain islands along the route.
The total time will likely be longer.” “T-two months?” Pons could not help but exclaim.
“We’ll be on this ship for over two months?” Galland smiled and said: “As a Marine, spending long periods at sea is the norm.
Since you’ve chosen to join, you’ll need to get used to life at sea.” The logic was sound, but Pons still hoped the voyage could be shorter.
After a moment’s thought, he asked Galland: “Could we stop at another Marine base and switch to a faster warship to take us to Headquarters?” Galland shook his head.
“The Marines’ primary duty is always to guard against pirates.
The better-performing ships at each base are reserved for fighting pirates and cannot be easily reassigned.” There was no way around it…
he would just have to endure the journey on this mediocre vessel.
Since he had chosen to join the Marines, he would have to stick with it.
The voyage was fairly uneventful.
No foolish pirates bothered the warship, nor did they encounter any attacks on merchant ships like the one with the Swordfish Pirates.
The journey could only be described as tedious.
About a week into the voyage, a Sea King over ten meters long attacked the ship.
Pons transformed into his Gengar form and blasted it with several Shadow Balls, driving the creature back beneath the waves.
It did not dare approach again.
Galland and the other Marines were thoroughly impressed.
“You’re truly formidable, Pons…
driving off a Sea King that huge so easily,” Galland praised him sincerely after the battle.
Previously, Galland had harbored some doubts about Pons’s abilities…
after all, the young man did not look particularly imposing.
But after witnessing that fight with the Sea King, Galland was completely convinced.
Sea Kings posed a far greater threat at sea than most ordinary pirates.
If Pons could repel one with ease, then his future in the Marines was practically guaranteed to be bright.